The latest CIES e-Working Paper is now available in Open Access. Entitled “Global Teacher Prize Portugal: Pertinence and Relevance of an Award for Teachers”, the publication is authored by Sérgio Lourosa Alves, a PhD candidate in Educational Administration and School Management Policies at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon.
Abstract
This article presents a technical and scientific analysis of the Global Teacher Prize Portugal (GTPP), an award created to recognize and value teachers who have distinguished themselves through their educational practices. Based on a theoretical framework of planning, evaluation, and diagnosis, the relevance of this initiative is analyzed as a response to the social, emotional, and institutional challenges faced by teachers in Portugal. Key issues highlighted include the social devaluation of the profession, functional overload, lack of recognition, and the fragmentation of teachers’ work, which consequently lead to professional burnout and identity crises. The study explores solutions centered on teachers’ creativity, innovation, and reflexivity, emphasizing the GTPP as a means to strengthen self-esteem, motivation, and retention in the profession, fostering new pedagogical practices and a more humanistic and inclusive environment. In conclusion, it is understood that initiatives like the GTPP contribute to rethinking educational policies, promoting an ethical and democratic approach to teaching, while also recognizing the relevance of teachers as transformative agents of society.
